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The Norns (Old Norse: ''norn'', plural: ''nornir'') in Norse mythology〔The article ''(Dis )'' in ''Nordisk familjebok'' (1907).〕 are female beings who rule the destiny of gods and men, possibly a kind of dísir (see below), and comparable to the Moirai (also called "The Fates") in Greek mythology. According to Snorri Sturluson's interpretation of the ''Völuspá'', the three most important norns, Urðr (Wyrd), Verðandi and Skuld, come out from a hall standing at the Well of Urðr (well of fate). They draw water from the well and take sand that lies around it, which they pour over Yggdrasill so that its branches will not rot.〔The article ''(Nornor )'' in ''Nordisk familjebok'' (1913).〕 These three norns are described as powerful maiden giantesses (Jotuns) whose arrival from Jötunheimr ended the golden age of the gods.〔 They may be the same as the maidens of Mögþrasir who are described in ''Vafþrúðnismál'' (see below).〔 Beside these three, there are many other norns who arrive when a person is born in order to determine his or her future.〔 In the pre-Christian Norse societies, norns were thought to have visited newborn children. There were both malevolent and benevolent norns: the former caused all the malevolent and tragic events in the world while the latter were kind and protective goddesses.〔 Recent research has discussed the relation between the myths associated with norns and valkyries and traveling Völvas (''seiðr''-workers). Within skaldic references, norses are often seen as negative beings that are mostly associated with transitional situations such as violent death and battle. In Egil's Saga, Kveldulf composes a poem lamenting the loss of his eldest son Thorolf. Here, what is stressed is the personal tragedy felt by Kveldulf and the sense that what happened was out of his control or in the hands of fate. It is presumed that Óðinn has chosen Thorolf to be among his einherjar so Bek-Pedersen suggests that since Óðinn has caused the death then the norn has caused the emotional turmoil. Another negative aspect associated with the norns is that they are associated with death (see Skaldic Poetry). Not all aspects of the norns were negative, however, as they were associated with life and birth as well (see ''Helgakviða Hundingsbana I'' and ''Gylfaginning''). ==Etymology== The origin of the name ''norn'' is uncertain, it may derive from a word meaning "to twine" and which would refer to their twining the thread of fate.〔 Bek-Pedersen suggests that the word ''norn'' has relation to the Swedish dialect word ''norna (nyrna)'', a verb that means "secretly communicate". This relates to the perception of norns as shadowy, background figures who only really ever reveal their fateful secrets to men as their fates come to pass. The name ''Urðr'' (Old English Wyrd, Weird) means "fate". It should be noted that ''wyrd'' and ''urðr'' are etymological cognates, which does not guarantee that ''wyrd'' and ''urðr'' share the same semantic quality of "fate" over time. Both ''Urðr'' and ''Verðandi'' are derived from the Old Norse verb ''verða'', "to be". While ''Urðr'' derives from the past tense ("that which became or happened"), ''Verðandi'' derives from the present tense of ''verða'' ("that which is happening"). ''Skuld'' is derived from the Old Norse verb ''skulla'', "need/ought to be/shall be";〔 its meaning is "that which should become, or that needs to occur".〔 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「Norns」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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